'Skeleton Crew': Why Did The New Republic Help At Attin But Not Nevarro?

WARNING: SPOILERS for Skeleton Crew 1x08, 'The Real Good Guys'.

The season finale of Skeleton Crew saw the kids come together to successfully thwart Jod Na Nawood's attempted hostile takeover of At Attin. Thankfully, they were not alone in their efforts, with a fleet of New Republic ships, summoned by KB via a distress call to Kh'ymm, arriving to drive off Jod's pirate crew.

The New Republic's intervention, while a joyous moment, has raised questions for some fans. During The Mandalorian season three, Magistrate Greef Karga sends a distress call to the New Republic for the very same reason as the Skeleton Crew.. a Pirate invasion of his home planet, Nevarro. Captain Carson Teva wants to intervene, but his request is rejected as Nevarro has opted to remain independent, failing to sign the charter that would make it part of the New Republic.

At Attin, due to how sheltered the planet has been leading to a belief they live in the time of the previous 'old' Republic, is also not an official part of the New Republic. So, why were the New Republic so quick to provide the help they had denied Nevarro in the same situation?

Well, there are a few reasons..

The people of At Attin are recruitable

At the time Nevarro fell under attack, they had already declined joining the New Republic. The New Republic's forces were stretched thin enough helping their own members, and unfair as it seems, it would have been of no benefit to them to waste resources on a planet that had already opted out.

At Attin is a very different case. A sudden new player on the chessboard of the Galaxy, now probably lost for what to do after losing the Supervisor, the droid that had ruled and guided them for generations, At Attin was worth the New Republic's time as a potential new signatory to the Charter. And of course, there's probably no better time to discuss signing the Charter with At Attin's remaining human leadership than just after a fleet of New Republic ships saved their planet.

The Skeleton Crew kids were already on the New Republic's radar.. and they're kids in trouble

Shortly after their arrival at her home back in episode three, Khy'mm secretly contacts the New Republic regarding Jod and the kids, fearing that Jod, whom she knew as Crimson Jack, had actually kidnapped them. She stalls while waiting for her summoned help, but when a pair of X-Wings arrive, the kids, who still mostly trust Jod at that point, flee with him (although a suspicious KB wisely collects Khy'mm's contact details). The X-Wings initially give chase, but drop their pursuit due to the risk of harming the kids.

However, a group of unrelated children travelling with someone who seems to be a known criminal isn't something the New Republic's law enforcement could simply ignore. New Republic pilots were likely told to keep an eye out for Jod/Crimson Jack and the kids, and Khy'mm, having warned KB of Jod's potential treachery, was probably prepared for the Skeleton Crew's eventual call for help. The kids were already on the New Republic's radar, as someone they were already hoping to help, making them more prepared to help At Attin when KB's distress call came.

This is also a situation where context is key. Prior to Din Djarin's battle with Moff Gideon at the end of the first season of The Mandalorian, Nevarro was a hub world for the Bounty Hunter's Guild, former Imperials, and other unsavory types. Ignoring a distress call from a planet who's population is largely made up of recently reformed criminals isn't going to lose the New Republic too many points. On the other hand, denying a call for help from innocent children under threat would not be a good look.

The New Republic is a Government in it's infancy, still working to gain support and solidify it's existence. There are some savvy, sometimes annoying senators on the New Republic council. Successfully answering the distress call of a child is good publicity. The New Republic's decision to send ships to At Attin may be as simple as that.

Perhaps we'll one day hear more from the heroes of At Attin if Skeleton Crew is granted a second season.